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You really can’t go wrong with a Glock handgun, particularly not with the Glock 17 or the Glock 19. Although there are distinctive differences between the two guns, they share an inherent link in that the Glock 19 was made as a more compact version of the Glock 17 – the original, classic Glock handgun. Originally developed in the early 1980’s by Austrian engineer Gaston Glock as the flagship offering of the new Glock company, the Glock 17 sought to out-do the long-standing gun choice of law enforcement around the world, the Smith & Wesson 9mm. Additionally, the Glock 17 was seeking to replace the Walther P38 handguns that had been the standard issue firearm of the Austrian army since WW2. This is our Glock 17 vs Glock 19 Review.

And Then Came The Glock 17

Named for the 17 criteria that were to be featured in the weapon, the Glock 17 sought to include such enhancements to the traditional handgun as a self-loading design, minimum eight-round capacity, ambidextrous shooting, fully interchangeable components, and more. The Glock 17 was a huge success, becoming a best-seller due to the great interest in the gun from law enforcement and military agencies around the world, as well as from civilians. The firearm was reliable, well-made, and efficient, and due to Glock 17-exclusive factories as well as the cheaper, polymer made frame of the gun, more cost efficient than the typical handgun of the time as well.

glock 17 vs glock 19

After enjoying years of success with the Glock 17, Gaston Glock and his company sought to provide consumers with a gun option that was similar to the Glock 17 but more compact, allowing for better concealed carrying and use for those who prefer a smaller sized firearm. Developed and released in the late 1980’s, the Glock 19 featured a shorter barrel grip than its predecessor and was so successful that it has featured three new “generation” Glock 19 editions developed at various points over the last three decades – Gen 2, Gen 3, and Gen 4.

Tech Specs of the G17 and G19

G17

G19

CALIBER/SYSTEM

9×19 / Safe Action

9×19 / Safe Action

LENGTH

204 mm / 8.03 in

187 mm / 7.36 in

HEIGHT

138 mm / 5.43 in

127 mm / 4.99 in

WIDTH

30.00 mm / 1.18 in

30.00 mm / 1.18 in

BARREL HEIGHT

32 mm / 1.26 in

32 mm / 1.26 in

BETWEEN SIGHTS

165 mm / 6.49 in

153 mm / 6.02 in

BARREL LENGTH

114 mm / 4.48 in

102 mm / 4.01 in

WEIGHT (unloaded)

710 g / 25.06 oz

670 g / 23.65 oz

WEIGHT (loaded)

910 g / 32.12 oz

855 g / 30.18 oz

TRIGGER PULL

~2.5 kg / ~5.5 lbs

~2.5 kg / ~5.5 lbs

TRIGGER TRAVEL

~12.5 mm / ~0.49 in

~12.5 mm / ~0.49 in

BARREL RIFLING

Right Hand, Hexagonal

Right Hand, Hexagonal

LENGTH OF TWIST

250 mm / 9.84 in

250 mm / 9.84 in

STANDARD MAGAZINE

17

15

OPTIONAL MAGAZINE

10/33

10/17/33

Pro's and Con's of Glock 17 and 19

Pros of Glock 17 and Glock 19

glock 19 better CCW

The Glock 17 is a larger weapon than the Glock 19, and thus may be preferable for folks who want a larger-sized handgun, due to their own hand size or otherwise. Additionally, the barrel of the Glock 17 is longer, which makes for a more accurate shooting experience than that of the Glock 19. The Glock 19 will be a far better concealed carry weapon due to its size – this factor is objectively true, and not opinion-based; the smaller the gun, the easier it will be to concealed carry it. Both weapons use 9mm cartridges, however only the Glock 19 can use both Glock 19 and Glock 17 cartridges – the Glock 17 does not accept Glock 19 cartridges. Ultimately, the size of the Glock 17 and the Glock 19 is the primary distinctive difference between the two guns – as an effectively reduced size version of the Glock 17, the Glock 19 is fairly similar to its predecessor. It has been said that the Glock 17 is less aesthetically pleasing than the Glock 19, however this is a subjective opinion. Lastly, the Glock 19 features more accessories and modification support than almost any gun ever made (the Glock 17 offers quite a lot of customization/mod options, just not quite as many as its little brother, the Glock 19).

Cons of Glock 17 and Glock 19

accuracy is key

The greatest potential shortcoming of the Glock 17 is easily its size. While some people may have absolutely no problem with concealed carrying a Glock 17, the relatively larger size of the gun may make this a difficult task, particularly with smaller people who have less room to conceal a weapon on their person. The Glock 17 also features less accessory support than the Glock 19, given the fact that it was released years earlier and features lesser production and technological advancements in its production than the Glock 19. The Glock 17 does offer a fair few accessories but ultimately falls just a tad short of the Glock 19. The Glock 19, while accurate, does have a somewhat lesser firing range than the Glock 17 due to its shorter barrel, although this is only really a con when considered in direct comparison to the Glock 17. In a vacuum, the weapon does perform very well when firing from a distance.

Conclusion

The Glock 17 and Glock 19 are two unsurprisingly similar guns, given the origins of each gun and especially the Glock 19. Both are excellent guns that have taken great, revolutionary strides towards improving and furthering the handgun industry as a whole. Ultimately, it’s difficult to properly convey the differences between the two guns in a way that frames one as superior, because that’s dependent on the individual. The best way to determine which gun will work best for you is by trying them both out. It’s difficult to know which gun you’ll prefer in terms of size without physically holding the gun yourself and firing it. Additionally, preferences will be dependent on whether or not the gun owner will be using the firearm for defense purposes, or for concealed carry purposes. If you’re in the market for a Glock weapon, try them both out today to see which will work best for you!

You can find out more about the Glock 19 with our Glock 19 Gen 4 Review!